Oral History Project

Recognising the need to record our living history, the Society
initiated its Oral History Project in 2013. Since then, Carol
McKirdy from History
Herstoryhas interviewed some of the outstanding past
personalitiesof golf
in Australia, and drawn out their thoughts on many aspects of
the game.

Each of the interviews is
available here, with the length and file size listed - e.g. (1:07:15 - 61.57 mb).

Full interviews are also
available for listening at the Museumany
time during our normal hours of operation.

The Australian Golf Heritage
Society owns the copyright of these interviews in all formats.
Reproduction for purposes other than private study or research
requires direct written permission from the Society. Any
permitted reproduction of copyright material, including fair
dealing, must acknowledge the AGHS as the owner of the material.

1. Tom Moore

Tom Moore's career in golf started as a 16-
year-old in 1947 at Asquith Golf Club, and - a
bit like Johnnie Walker - is still going strong.
His professional career began in 1953, and
saw him serve at Bert Oldfield's Sports Store,
at Muirfield Golf Club for 23½ years, and at
the Auburn Municipal Golf Course for a
further 20 years.

In this interview, Tom explains the life of a club
professional in the 1950s, 60s & 70s, the way
that equipment has changed and evolved in
his experience and the role he played in
establishing the heritage golf movement in
Australia. Recorded 15
March 2013.

2. Dan Cullen

With a dream of being a Club Professional,
Dan Cullen entered his first pro shop at the
age of 14 completing a Traineeship at the
Western Australian Golf Club under the
guidance of Eric Alberts.

He won the 1937 and 1938 W.A. Opens,
and in 1939 defeated Bobby Locke in an
exhibition Royal Perth Golf Club. He moved
to Sydney, and by 1941 was in the RAAF.

Dan passed away in January 2016 aged 101,
and we were indeed privileged to share the
insight into his long, varied, and fruitful life
that he provided here.Recorded 28
March 2013.

Play the complete Dan
Cullen interview (1:08:55 - 63.10 mb)

3. Edgar Oakman

In his 60 years as a professional, Edgar
Oakman has done time in the workshops of
Carnegie Clark (under the direction of
Carnegie himself), and then worked at the
Avondale, Killara, Moss Vale, Rabaul,
Dunedin, Katoomba, Nelsons Bay, and
Wentworth Falls Golf Clubs.

In addition to telling the story of his long,
interesting and varied life, Edgar also
explains
the genesis of the 'Edgar Oakman Collection'
which today graces the Australian Golf
Heritage Society's Museum at Granville.Recorded
22 April 2013.

4.
Alex & Dave Mercer

One of golf's
great double acts, Alex and
Dave Mercer discuss their respective careers
that began in the 1950s and are still going
strong.

Their strong backgrounds in teaching give a
different perspective on the role of the club
professional, and their views on the changes
in equipment over the years are insightful.

The also speak with some authority on the
PGA, and the changes that the organisation
has undergone over the years.Recorded
30 September 2014.

Play the complete Dave & Alex Mercer
interview (1:23:41 - 76.61 mb)

5.
Frank Phillips

With 17 wins on
the PGA Tour of Australasia -
including two Australian Opens - and the
national Opens of the Philippines,
Singapore,
Malaysia and Hong Kong, it is easy to see
why Frank Philips was rated as one of the
best ball strikers of his era.

In this interview, Frank discusses his life
and
professional career, and shares his thoughts
on golf in Australia in the 50s and 60s, the
best players he ever saw and how they
compare to the players of today, his choice
of
the best courses, and his philosophy on the
game.Recorded
21 March 2015.

Play the complete Frank Phillips interview
(1:25:22 - 78.15 mb).

6.
Margery McWilliam

Margery
McWilliam's life was steeped in golf.

Encouraged by her father to take up golf
after
being injured playing hockey, Margery
married professional Bill McWilliam and
naturally followed him as he moved from
country NSW, to metropolitan NSW, to
Malaysia, and then back to metropolitan NSW.

Her more than considerable contribution to
women's golf in NSW is discussed at length,
as is her similar career in club golf.

Margery has been honoured by the NSW
Sports Federation, NSW Sports Awards, and
with an Order of Australia for services to
golf.Recorded
7 June 2015.

Play part one of the Margery McWilliam interview
(53:45 - 49.22 mb).
Play part two of the Margery McWilliam interview
(22:53 - 20.95 mb).

7. Edwina Kennedy

The name Edwina Kennedy is
familiar to any
student of Australian golf.

Allegedly presented with her first set of clubs
at the age of two, Edwina joined the
Wentworth Falls Golf Club at the age of seven
and had broken 100 by the following year.

At sixteen, she won the Australian foursomes
with Sue Goldsmith, and then the Australian
junior championship four years in a row.

In 1978, on her nineteenth birthday, Edwina
became the first Australian to win the British
Women's Amateur Golf Championship. Recorded 5 January
2016.

Play the complete Edwina Kennedy interview (1:45:15 - 96.30
mb)

The
AGHS 'Women in Golf' project is supported by Arts NSW's
Cultural Grant Program, a devolved funding program
administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society on
behalf of the NSW Government.

8. Marea Hickey

At the age of 10 Marea was
given a cut down
hickory shafted club by her parents, so that
she could have a hit when she strolled around
the golf course.

Showing great potential, Marea came under
the coaching of Gosford Golf Club pro Peter
Churcher who was a firm believer that Marea
was born to be a golfer.

In 1962 Marea joined the L.G.U Coaching
Squad and as this was her last year at school,
she entered in the NSW Schoolgirls Golf
Championships. This was her first competition
and with surprise she won!

Marea was the youngest woman to win both
the Australian and New Zealand Titles in the
same year (1964), at the age of 18. Recorded 15 March
2016.

Play the complete Marea Hickey
interview (1:12:40 - 66.53 mb)

The AGHS 'Women in Golf' project is supported by Arts NSW's
Cultural Grant Program, a devolved funding program administered
by the Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW
Government.

9. Judy Perkins

As a youngster in Goulburn, Judy Perkins
showed promise early by reducing her
handicap from 36 to 4 in a matter of eleven
months.

From practicing around the Goulburn
course with fellow member Bruce Devlin as a
15 year old, to winning the Australian
Foursomes Championship, becoming a
NSW rep player, representing Australia
locally and overseas, being twice Australian
Amateur champion, being recently made a
life member of the ALPG, and still playing
golf off a single figure handicap, Judy's
story is nothing but fascinating.Recorded 13 May 2016.

Play the complete Judy Perkins
interview (1:11:18 - 65.28 mb)

The AGHS 'Women in Golf' project
is supported by Arts NSW's Cultural Grant Program, a devolved
funding program administered by the Royal Australian Historical
Society on behalf of the NSW Government.

10. Noel Bartell

Noel's record in amateur golf was nothing
short of outstanding.

From the early 1950s until the late 1990s,
Noel's golfing resume included national,
State and club honours, including the unique
achievement of two NSW Champion of
Champions victories, and 48 club
championship events at NSW Golf Club.

In this interview, Noel reflects on his life,
his outstanding and prolonged playing
record, his administrative experiences, and
the time he spent over the years with various
golfing identities.Recorded 7 October 2016.